Three Counties And Four Outcrops To Look At The Miss. Of Ky

[howard_l]

I traveled to Madison, Rockcastle and Casey Counties in Kentucky to check out some lower Mississippian age outcrops after some heavy rain. I only found a couple of things in Madison Co. One was a very nicely shaped siderite nodule that I made the statement after hitting it, I am paraphrasing “Dang-it I wish I hadn’t hit it so hard” It was a very large coiled nautiloid I am in the process of trying to glue it back together. I took a picture of the negative of the nodule. Picture 1.

In Rockcastle Co. tried an outcrop that I had only looked at once before and found nothing but is very close to one where I have been lucky before. Unfortunately, I again didn’t find much. There was a large amount of trace fossils in the shale and I found one that was odd I am going to have to do some research on it. Picture 2.

Last I went to Casey Co. and check out two outcrops that I found earlier this year. The gray shale is chalked full of Geodes. I found some with remnants of brachiopods. This is a very good example of what happens to fossils that have been geodized and how little remains of the actual fossil. Pic 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, & 8. I also found a geodized rugose coral. Picture 9. 90% of the geodes are garbage but a few are pretty or very unusually shaped. I found this pretty, little pink quartz geode. Picture 10. I was also able to find very nice brachiopods with very good preservation. Picture 11. The rest of the fossils were so-so. Gastropods, pic 12., Rugose Coral Pic. 13, one very small and incomplete Conulariid, Pic. 14. I also found a number of straight and coiled partial nautiloids. Picture 15 & 16. I was hoping to do better but at least I got some badly needed exercise.

[Ludwigia]

Hey, that Nautilus doesn't look bad at all! And I like the pyritized fossils! Thanks for sharing.

[fossilized6s]

Good stuff! I like the colors and weird shapes of your finds. They almost look alien.

[Fossildude19]

Interesting report.

I agree with Roger, ... neat nautiloid - hope it glues together well for you.

Thanks for posting this.

Regards,

[howard_l]

Very little pyrite in these, most are siderite. Some areas have a lot of pyrite. The brachiopods appear to have original shell material although I am sure it has been altered some. They are easy to find since they shine in the sunshine. They flake off very easily leaving an ugly internal mold. I started working on the large Nautiloid but I am afraid I will never get it all back it looks like the outer whorl may not have been preserved. Most I find are that way.

[JustPlainPetrified]

Sometimes, a rock's gonna break as it sees fit, with no concern over the efforts you make to release its treasured fossil within.